What is Basal Cell Cancer?
Basal cell cancer is the most common of the cancers of the skin, and for most people, it can be directly attributable to sun exposure – both short bursts of intense sun and chronic sun damage over years. While its presentations are varied, it typically shows up on the skin as a pearly papule on a sun exposed area – for example, the face, neck, or arms. Fortunately, for people with a healthy immune system, basal cell cancer is extremely indolent and has exceptionally low rates of spreading. If treated early, cure rates can approach 100%.
Treatment options vary depending on the type and location of basal cell cancer. These include outpatient surgery under local anesthesia, electrodessication and curettage (a 5 minute scraping / burning in the office under local anesthesia), immune-system altering prescription creams, and specialized Mohs surgery. Dr. Rieder will allay your anxieties and discuss any and all treatment options with you.
What Is Squamous Cell Cancer?
Squamous cell cancer is the second most common type of skin cancer and is typically seen in people with light skin and substantial sun exposure. However, it is also regularly seen in people who have compromised immune systems, in scars, and in non-healing ulcers. It can present in many different ways, but typically there will be a rough patch of elevated skin that may scale, bleed, and not heal. While not as dangerous as melanoma, squamous cell cancer may metastasize especially when presenting on the head and neck or in people with a compromised immune system.
Squamous cell cancer is often preceded by actinic keratoses or pre-cancerous lesions that appear as rough, sandy spots on sun-exposed areas of skin. People will often remark that these spots scale, crust, and then fall off to become smooth, only to gradually become rough again.
Treatment options for squamous cell cancer depend on the depth, width, location, and extension of the growth. Options may include prescription creams, electrodessication and curettage (a 5 minute scraping / burning in the office under local anesthesia), outpatient surgery under local anesthesia, and specialized Mohs surgery. Dr. Rieder will guide you through this entire process and discuss any and all treatment options with you.
Treatment options of precancerous lesions are many and include prescription creams, cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen spray in the office), chemical peeling, light therapy, and laser.
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most deadly of the skin cancers and derives from pigment-making melanocytes. While for many people melanoma will arise as a result of ultraviolet radiation (sun exposure or indoor tanning), for others, melanoma can be attributable to family history and genetics. The appearance of melanoma will vary according to type of disease, but most melanomas are pigmented and share several common features. These are known as the ABCDEs of melanoma. They are:
- Asymmetry of lesion
- irregularity of Borders
- change or variegation of Color
- large Diameter (greater than 6mm)
- Evolution
Early diagnosis of melanoma is critical to ensure its quick removal. When caught early, surgical removal has extremely high rates of cure. Advanced disease is often referred to medical and surgical oncologists for more aggressive therapy.
